After years of strenuous effort on and off the pitch, Chelsea made history in 2012 by lifting the Champions League trophy for the first time.
Since the arrival of Roman Abramovich, Chelsea wore one clear obsession: conquer Europe’s top club competition. Guided by legendary coaches, including the iconic Jose Mourinho, the London club finally fulfilled that ambition in 2012 in Munich against Bayern, and again in 2021 by defeating Manchester City in Porto.
How many Champions League titles has Chelsea won?
The 2011-2012 triumph
Under the leadership of Roberto Di Matteo, Chelsea navigated immense challenges and even with Bayern’s early goal to level the tie, the Blues held firm through extra time. A dramatic penalty shootout followed, with Petr Cech and Didier Drogba emerging as heroes of the night, sealing Chelsea’s first Champions League crown.
In the group stage, Chelsea were drawn with Bayer Leverkusen, Valencia, and Genk in group E. The Dutch side led the group early thanks to a 3-0 victory over Valencia on the final day and a late draw between Leverkusen and Genk, finishing with 11 points, one more than Leverkusen and securing a spot in the knockout rounds with relief.
Progress to the quarter-finals was anything but straightforward. Napoli stood in the way, triumphing 3-1 in the first leg. Stamford Bridge produced one of European football’s most memorable nights as Chelsea rallied to win 4-1, turning a 4-3 aggregate deficit into a 5-4 triumph.
The next hurdle sent Chelsea to Lisbon to face Benfica. The opening leg was a 1-0 defeat at Da Luz, but in London the Blues overturned the deficit, winning 2-1 to seal a 3-1 aggregate advantage.
From there the route led to Barcelona and Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions. After a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea faced a formidable trip to Camp Nou. The Catalans briefly surged ahead with a 2-0 lead, yet Ramires and especially Fernando Torres swung momentum in Chelsea’s favor, pushing them toward a final showdown with Bayern in Munich.
There the contest remained in doubt. Bayern took the lead late in the game, but Drogba struck to force extra time. Cech’s reliability and a decisive penalty conversion sealed Chelsea’s historical night, lifting the trophy amid overwhelming joy in the stadium and for fans back home.
The 2020-2021 triumph
Chelsea’s group stage saw them finish unbeaten alongside Sevilla, Krasnodar, and Rennes, conceding just two goals in six matches, with one at Krasnodar on the final day. The performance showcased the team’s growing resilience and balance under Thomas Tuchel’s guidance.
During the knockout phase Tuchel refined the side’s defensive shape, allowing only two goals across seven matches to reach the final. Chelsea’s compact defense stymied Atlético Madrid in the Round of 16 and again shut down Manchester City in the title decider. Guardiola’s side managed only a single shot on target in the final, underscoring Chelsea’s tactical discipline.
In attack, Porto’s defense was broken in the quarterfinals only for Chelsea to edge through by a single goal on the night. The Blues’ forward line continued to develop, with new arrivals and young talents like Christian Pulisic and Mason Mount making decisive contributions. Their performances culminated in Chelsea lifting the trophy, marking another milestone for English football and a new chapter in the club’s storied European history.
Note: The information reflects historical summaries of Chelsea’s Champions League campaigns as documented in major football archives. (Goal)